Memorial of Saints (January 7)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Raymond of Penafort, priest
• Lucian of Antioch, martyr
• Valentine, bishop
• Tillo
• Aldric, bishop
• Reinold
• Canute Lavard
• Kentigerna, widow

St. Raymond of Penafort (1175-1275 A.D.) was born into a noble family. His 100 years of life had the opportunity to accomplish many things. Given an excellent education, he taught philosophy in Barcelona by the age of twenty. Ten years later, he earned a doctorate in both canon and civil law.

In 1222 A.D., he entered the Dominican order. St. Raymond became noted for his preaching and for converting heretics, Jews, and Moors, as well as reforming Christians who have fallen-away because of their slavery to the Moors. One office Raymond was called to be responsible for was to be Pope Gregory IX's confessor. In 1235 A.D., the pope named Raymond as Archbishop of Tarragona - a position St. Raymond did not want. In 1238 A.D., he was elected master general of the Dominican order. He resigned at the age of sixty-five but did not retire as he resumed his work of preaching and converting and establishing friaries in Spain and North Africa. St. Raymond of Penafort died on January 6, 1275 A.D. and was canonized in 1601 A.D.

St. Raymond of Penafort is one of the Saints who lived to 100 years, Learn more

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 7]

• Synaxis of St. John, the glorious Prophet

The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches celebrate a feast in honor of John the Baptist on this day, January 7.

Memorial of Saints (January 6)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Andre Bessette, religious
• Peter of Canterbury, abbot
• John of Ribera, bishop
• Raphaela of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, virgin
• Wiltrudis, widow
• Erminold, abbot
• Charles of Sezze, religious
• Guarinus or Guerin, bishop

St. Andre Bessette (1845-1937 A.D.) was a Holy Cross brother with a reputation for the power of healing. He was born in the village of Saint-Gregoire d'Iberville in the diocese of Montreal, Canada. Though unable to be educated because of the death of both his parents, he chose to work. He went to the USA to work in manual occupations but returned to Canada and joined the Brothers of the Holy Cross.

Taking final religious vows in 1874 A.D., he served as janitor, infirmarian, and other duties at the College of Our Lady of the Snows near Montreal. He was then transferred to the city of Montreal itself where he helped build the Oratory of St. Joseph - the saint to whom he was greatly devoted. Much attention was centered on St. Andre Bessette because of the number of cures that were attributed to him. He was known as the "Miracle Man of Montreal". He died on January 6, 1937 A.D. at the age of ninety-one. Beatified by St. John Paul II in 1982 A.D., he was then raised to the altar as a Saint on October 17, 2010, by Pope Benedict XVI.

St. Charles of Sezze (1616-1670 A.D.) was born at Sezze, Italy, on October 19. He became a shepherd and wanted to become a priest. When unable to do so because he barely learned to read and write, he applied as a lay brother at Naziano, and served in various menial positions. He became known for his holiness, simplicity and charity.

Despite his lack of education, Charles began to put his insights into writing. Besides an extensive correspondence, he wrote a number of devotional works, described as “solid, spiritual, and seraphic.” Most famous was his spiritual autobiography, “The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God,” written at the command of his confessor. His other written works were:

• Birth of Holy Mary's Novena
• Christmas Novena
• Holy Settenario
• Invalid Path of the Soul
• Jesus Christ's Talk about Life
• The Three Ways

He was canonized in 1959 by St. John XXIII.

Learn more from:

• Franciscantradition.org
• Wikipedia.org

Short review of all the Saints Lives' for the month of January.

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 6]

• Epiphany, or Holy Manifestation of the Divinity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)
Solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany (C), January 6, 2013

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

"On entering the house, they found the child with Mary his mother."

It is only in the gospel of Matthew that we find the story of men from the East, who traveled to Judea, to learn the whereabouts of a newly born "king of the Jews". These men are named differently in various bible translations: as astrologers, wise men, Magi, or men from the East who studied the stars. Since the birth of Jesus was preannounced as a prophecy even outside of Judea, these men from the East also knew about that prophecy. Thus, when they saw the star that announced the birth, they traveled to Judea to follow that star at its rising. Once at Judea and as soon as they reached the area where the star pointed to, they were overjoyed as they arrived and entered the house where the child was. After a moment of adoration, each one opened their coffers and presented the child Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

As we depart from these gospel reading and search for messages in Catholic spirituality along the continuum of Christian centuries, St. Peter Chrysologus (bishop of the 5th century A.D.) has this to say about the Epiphany:

"Today the Magi find the one they have followed as he shone in the sky...the Magi see clearly, in swaddling clothes, the one they have long awaited; as he lay hidden among the stars...the Magi look in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a King, myrrh for one who is to die...so the Gentiles, who were the last, become the first: the faith of the Magi is the first fruits of the belief of the Gentiles."

Jesus is our God, our King and our Redeemer. His humility as a newborn child, being one like us except for sin, leads us to discover a God who is in solidarity with the frailness of all humanity. The mission and ministry of Jesus to the sick, the poor and those in bondage to sin, reveals to all a King who serves everyone in His Kingdom. And His death on the Cross presents to the faithful a Redeemer, who sealed a covenant in His blood, to save mankind from sin. And His death, which appeared meaningless at first, brings everyone now to life everlasting. The Lord Jesus manifested Himself as God, King and Redeemer, not only for His own people, but to all - as the visit and faith of the Magi attest. He is not only the hope of Israel, but the hope of all humanity and creation.